Although the woman in front of her was skinny, she was tall. She was a foot taller than Luca, and she did not seem like the type who one would fall easily.The woman shook her head and replied, “No, thanks. I was in a hurry. It’s not your fault.”After that, she headed straight and kept going.She was slightly limping after she fell just now. Luca felt sorry for her and came forward to help her up. "It's my fault. Where are you going? Let me help you."“I’m going home. It’s not far away from here. Young lady, go ahead. I’ll be fine.” The woman did not intend to blame Luca for it. It was not a big deal.“Since it’s not far away, let me send you home. You don’t want to head to the hospital for a check-up, so at least let me send you home. That way, I won’t worry about you,” Luca insisted.“Okay. Thank you.” The woman did not insist on walking back herself. She let Luca help her home.Fortunately, the weather was cold but she wore enough layers to keep herself warm. Hence, it only
Warren nodded. Even though Luca said so, his gaze followed her as she went.Gordan stood at the entrance. He saw Luca getting out of the car and came closer to her. Then, he said, “It seems like Luke treats you well. He even got a driver for you.”Luca nodded and replied, “I’ve gotten into some trouble. That’s why he got me a driver. Aren’t you cold standing here?”Gordan’s gaze shifted away from her as he shot a meaningful glance at the neighborhood. Luca waited for his reply patiently and said, “It’s going to be cold when the snow melts. The weather forecast said there’s going to be a cold snap tonight. You won’t be able to stand the cold with the layers you have on now.”Luca noticed that Gordan was not wearing enough layers to keep himself warm. It matched his personality too.Gordan was good-looking. He was particular about dressing himself up too. He was someone who would rather be fashionable than be comfortable.Even though he was standing here waiting for Vivian, he wa
“I’m here to help.” Luca smiled and walked into the kitchen. She picked up the apron and put it on.Aunt Neile smiled and replied, “Luckily, the kitchen is spacious enough. Otherwise, there’s no space for the two of you to stand in here and help.”“Aunt Neile, what should I do?” Luca asked.“I prepared soup today, but I haven’t added the seasonings into it. Why don’t you handle the seasoning?” said Aunt Neile. Vivian was here, so she prepared a few more dishes. "Okay." Luca opened the lid of the pot and realized Aunt Neile had prepared butternut squash soup. It was good for health, especially for people like Luke, who always worked overtime and was busy with work.Luca said, “Aunt Neile, save some in the pot to keep it warm. Mr. Crawford can have some when he’s back.”Aunt Neile immediately asked, “Mr. Crawford isn’t coming back for dinner tonight?”"Didn't he tell you? He's working overtime." Luca was a little surprised. Luke would inform Aunt Neile that he was not going home
Gordan got into T Corporation smoothly.It was not his first time coming here. Besides, there were no changes to T Corporation’s building structure. Gordan confirmed with the security guard the floor where Luke’s office was. Then, he got into the elevator and came to Luke’s office. Tina stood at the elevator to receive him. The elevator door slowly opened. She took a deep breath and said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Norton. Boss is already waiting for you in his office. This way, please.”“I know where his office is. You may go back to work.” The look on Gordan’s face was gloomy. He went straight ahead. Tina secretly mumbled to herself. Was he really Boss’ friend? Why did he look like he came to seek revenge?Gordan marched forward with his long legs and arrived at Luke’s office. He looked up and glanced at the signage, confirming that it was the CEO’s office. He did not knock on the door but walked right into his office instead.“Let’s go for a drink,” Gordan said straightforwardly
“I have to do as Vivian wishes,” replied Luke. Although Luke being kidnapped to the Island of Despair was indirectly related to Vivian, he had never blamed her for it.Vivian was visually unappealing, but she had a kind heart, and she deserved to be treated better.However, Gordan did not know how to appreciate her inner beauty. That was why it was good for the two of them to separate. Since they had separated, they should not see each other anymore.“If I didn’t know how much you loved Sis, I’d have suspected that ugly woman cast a spell on you and made you fall for her,” Gordan mumbled in a depressed tone. He could not understand why everyone was siding with Vivian.Luke and Luca were on her side.He was the true victim, okay?! Not only had he wasted a couple of years, but he also had to be humiliated when he got divorced.Luke gave Gordan a death stare.He should not have said such nonsense. Although Luca would not misunderstand him, they were at the office now. Those who
"Your semester is going to start soon. You have to cure your jet lag as soon as possible. Otherwise, you won’t be able to focus when you're in class." Luke knew what was bothering her, but he did not expose her. He reminded her and sounded like her big brother.Vivian nodded. Her worries eventually took over her hesitation. She could not help but ask, “Mr. Crawford, did you see anyone at the entrance when you came back here?”She did not mention Gordan’s name, but she knew Luke would know who she was asking about even if she did not say his name.“No one is at the entrance at this hour. It’s late. Rest early.” Luke knew Vivian wanted to ask about Gordan.After all, he had been standing at the entrance all day like a security guard.“Okay.” Vivian let out a sigh of relief when she heard no one was at the entrance. She had walked out to the balcony a moment ago. A gust of cold wind swept across her face. It was much colder than it was in the morning. Gordan was only concerned ab
“It’s our job, Dr. Craw. We’re heading to Watson Biopharmaceuticals first,” said Zoey. She was carrying a thick file. It contained all the information for the application of the drug launch.“Sure. Off you go.” Luca nodded.After Luca watched Zoey and Rhett leave from behind, she withdrew her gaze, looked down, and pondered for a moment.The phone in her pocket vibrated for a moment. Luca picked it up and glanced at her phone. She saw the number on the screen was not a string of numbers but Tina’s phone number. She let out a sigh of relief. “Tina, what’s the matter?” Luca answered the call."Dr. Craw, Boss, and Mr. Doyle haven't come to the office yet. I can only look for you." Tina did not go straight to the point. She expressed how helpless she was at first. Luca replied embarrassedly, “Mr. Crawford worked overtime last night. He should be at home now. You can call him if it’s about work.”There was no way Luca could handle T Corporation’s matters. She was in no position to
Gordan’s face darkened.Luca and Luke were a couple, indeed. They could say sarcastic things to him with a straight face. There was no way he could refute it.“Don’t worry. I know this place. Don’t mind me. I’ll leave you to work.” Gordan had no choice but to pretend as though her words did not emotionally set him off. He turned around and slouched on the sofa.Luca stopped, turned around, and glanced at Gordan who had fused with the sofa. She said, "Mr. Norton, are you planning to wait in T Corporation all day?"“I’ve already informed your boss. I’m going to stay here all day before the matter is settled,” Gordon replied with a smile. He thought Luca was panicking.After all, Luca’s true identity was Bianca. Bianca had always loved protecting Luke.Although Luke did not need her protection, she took it seriously when it was about protecting him.Luca slowly nodded and replied, “Sounds great. Mr. Crawford happens to need a bodyguard anyway.”"You…" Gordon was triggered by her w
“Yeah, something came up with my family, so they got delayed. They just brought me my meal,” answered the volunteer.Luca glanced at his food, which consisted of meat and vegetables. It was clear that his family treated him very well.“That’s quite a feast,” remarked Luca.“Heh, they know I need the nutrition, so they always give me this much. Ms. Craw, have you eaten yet?” the volunteer asked cheerfully. Now that his health was improving, his appetite had returned, and his mood was much better too.“I have. You should eat more. I just came in to check how much IV fluid is left. There’s still quite a bit, so I think it won't be done before the guys are done eating," replied Luca.The volunteer chuckled. “They eat fast. You guys are amazing, taking such good care of me. I haven’t suffered at all since being here.”“Your recovery is our biggest wish,” replied Luca.“Mm, I’ll definitely cooperate with the treatment,” replied the volunteer.“Alright, I’ll get back to work. Enjoy yo
Abel's hand paused for a moment before he continued stroking her eyelids.“What’s wrong?” His voice was eerily low, carrying a chilling edge.Hera could not see his expression, but just the sound of his voice was enough to send shivers down her spine.“Thank you.” Hera forced herself to smile, summoning what little courage she had.“No need for thanks. Just be good from now on.” Abel’s fingers continued their slow, deliberate caress. It was like he was handling a priceless treasure.Hera remained still, letting him touch her without protest. More than anything, she did not dare to speak. She was terrified that if she broke the moment and interrupted whatever was going through his mind, he would be displeased.At that moment, Luca brought the food to the table and asked, “Mr. Abel, Ms. Sanchez, lunch is ready. Would you prefer to eat here or in your room?”“I’ll go with whatever my baby wants.” Hera smiled sweetly, masking her fear behind a bright smile. For some reason, she ha
“I’m just making plans with a friend. No need to go into all that, right?” As Luca said, she lifted her gaze to meet Shanks.His eyes were as deep as the ocean, and in that split second of eye contact, she felt like she was being pulled in. She suddenly felt like she had just exposed herself.Awkwardly, she cleared her throat and said, “Mr. Shanks, I’ll head downstairs to make lunch.”Shanks did not call her out on it, nor did he press further. He simply returned to his experiment.Downstairs, Luca saw Abel sitting on the living room couch. Ignoring him was not an option.Luca greeted him politely, “Mr. Abel.”Abel took a slow drag from his cigar, his blue eyes scanning her from head to toe. He was deep in thought.He remained silent, seemingly deep in thought. His dark and brooding expression sent a chill down Luca’s spine. Without saying a word, she turned around and walked straight into the kitchen.Gerald was already inside.When he saw her, he mouthed, “You’re here?”Luc
If Shanks’ prescription could help Hera sleep earlier, that would not be a bad thing.“Then I need to be treat…” Hera paused for a moment, realizing she could not say the word treatment. That would imply she was sick, and she could not let people know that. Instead, she corrected herself and asked, “How long will I need to take this herbal medicine?”“You can stop when your test results are back to normal,” replied Luca as she picked up the medical waste and headed out of the room.Gerald followed closely behind and asked with curiosity, “Ms. Craw, how long is that?”“How long is a standard treatment cycle?” Luca asked in return.Gerald pondered for a moment. “Usually about a month?”“The average endocrine cycle for women is three months, so the minimum duration for proper regulation is three months,” explained Luca.Although Abel could take action at any time, there was no way Hera could endure three full months of treatment. However, until Abel made his move, she would have
Luca’s head was slightly tilted, her cheek burning with pain.Abel had not held back at all. The force of his slap was merciless. A numbness spread across her face at an alarming speed.From the next room, someone peeked out again and asked in a low voice, “You okay?”“I’m fine.” Luca’s expression remained calm. This kind of injury was nothing to her.Back on the Island of Despair, she had endured far worse during training. She survived, did she not?Without another word, Luca pushed open the lab door and stepped inside.The man watching shook his head. Her face was already that swollen, and she still said she was fine… What a tough woman. She took a slap that hard and brushed it off like it was nothing.Shanks lifted his head when he heard the door open. When he saw it was Luca and noticed how swollen the side of her face was, his brows furrowed.“Abel did this?”“Who else?” Luca let out a bitter laugh, only to wince as the movement tugged at the pain. She sucked in a sharp b
“No.” Shanks’ tone was cold and firm with no trace of hesitation.Abel still looked doubtful.Shanks added, “Would you like to see her medical report?”Abel was startled for a moment. How did Shanks know he had been thinking about that report?Now that Shanks brought it up, the idea lost its appeal.Abel shook his head. “Even if you showed it to me, I wouldn’t understand it. Shanks, Kassy’s life is in your hands. If you can give her a second chance, I’ll provide as much research funding as you need."Shanks remained silent. He could save Kassy. In fact, his research had always been for Kassy.However, he did not expect Abel to be so ruthless as to insist on using a living person as a donor for Kassy. That was something he could not accept.Kassy’s condition could be treated with organs from a brain-dead patient. Why destroy a perfectly healthy life?Shanks was not acting out of mercy. He simply refused to go against his medical ethics.He was not someone who had to save lives
“You don’t need to remind me. I was going to check anyway.” Abel shot Luca a chilling look.She took a step back and stayed silent.Abel turned to the pale-faced Hera and said, “If you’ve got low blood sugar, get up and eat something.”“I’ll eat now,” Hera replied, sitting up.Luca handed her the takeout.Abel glanced at the food and then frowned at Luca. “Why didn’t you make breakfast this morning?”“I was busy,” Luca explained with a calm indifference, her expression unwavering. She showed no fear, even under Abel’s questioning.Hera suddenly found herself admiring Luca. Everyone feared this man, yet Luca remained composed even when facing potential punishment. Not just anyone could pull that off.At the thought of this, Hera opened the takeout and kept quiet.Abel narrowed his eyes, glancing between Hera and Luca. His gaze was not exactly gentle as he muttered, “Stop eating this junk. It’s bad for you.”“I know, babe. Just this once. After this, I’ll have what Luca cooks f
Hera panicked the moment she heard that. “I trust her!”Luca and Shanks were both watching her.Hera repeated herself, saying, “I trust her, okay? What kind of treatment does she need? I’ll cooperate with anything. But what about Abel…”“I’ll tell him it’s just to help improve your overall health,” replied Shanks. Then, he turned around, opened the medicine cabinet, and started preparing the prescription.Hera let out a sigh of relief. As long as Abel did not find out about her health condition, that was all that mattered.If he knew she was unwell, he would send her back to A City. Without free medical help and no way to make extra money, she would be in serious trouble.“Thank you,” said Hera.“Wait outside,” instructed Shanks.“Okay.” Hera carefully stepped out.Luca, however, remained where she was, waiting.While preparing the medicine, Shanks asked, “Do you know which acupoints to target for her?”“Yes,” Luca replied confidently. As long as she checked Hera’s pulse, sh
“There are a lot of issues.” Luca did not hide anything and handed Hera the phone.Hera looked at it and frowned.“I can't understand any of this.” Hera felt dizzy just looking at the text, let alone the long list of medical terms. It was giving her a headache.“Look at these summaries and indicators. Compare the values on top with the normal values at the bottom, and you'll see what I mean,” explained Luca.Hera did not trust her. Therefore, Luca decided to let her see for herself. Seeing it with her own eyes would prevent any doubts later.Luca pointed out how to read the test results, and after a moment, Hera managed to understand the report. Her face turned pale. “How can there be so many problems?”She looked at Luca and questioned, “Did you fake this?”“I don’t have the power to make the medical center fake anything. Besides, the report has the medical center’s official stamp. If you don’t believe me, you can go directly to the medical center and ask for the official cop